A family was slapped with a $1,400 bill after visiting the emergency room at Las Vegas-based Centennial Hills Hospital when their 9-year-old daughter accidentally had gasoline splash in her eyes while learning to pump gas. They said the hospital's ER "overbilled and underserved" them because they were sent to a regular sink when the department's eye-washing station was too dirty, according to a WPTV news report.
Here are eight things to know:
1. Brianna Lee's mother flushed the eyes of her daughter at the gas station bathroom and headed to the ER with her, fearing a chemical burn. Brianna's medical records indicate the family was told to spend more time washing Brianna's eyes.
2. "The doctor really didn't do anything. He walked in the room, and he said that I need an eyewash station, and he walked out. And that's pretty much all he did, and I didn't see him after that," Brianna said.
3. Despite the physician emphasizing the need for the eye-wash station, the station was too dirty to use, Brianna's medical records confirm. As a result, Brianna was sent to a regular sink, where her mother rinsed the girl's eyes.
"For the emergency room not to be properly equipped, not to be ready to process any type of emergency that comes in, is scary," Brianna's father, Ronnie, told WPTV.
4. The physician's notes confirm that the family was sent to a regular sink because the eyewash station was dirty. The records say they became disappointed with their care and left.
5. The incident resulted in two bills: $600 from the hospital, and $800 from the ER physician.
6. According to the billing statement, the ER physician did a complete review of body systems and a full physical exam. In addition, he billed Brianna's care as a level three, typically reserved for moderately complex visit.
7. Beth Petschauer, a certified professional medical billing coder and auditor, told WPTV that Brianna's case raises red flags.
"There's documentation in the medical records that makes me question whether or not the provider actually performed the services that he's billing for," she said. "It would either be that the provider just automatically clicked on each of the things as if he did them, or he's padding the note in an attempt to get further additional funds. Level three and four are moderate, where there's more testing required."
8. The hospital released the following statement about the incident: "We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding this matter to ensure that proper procedures are followed. The eye-wash station referenced is located in a utility room and is for staff use in case a chemical/caustic substance splashes in their eye while they are working in the room. It's not in a patient care area and not intended for patient use. That eye-wash station is cleaned weekly."